ROME, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Italy has imposed new checks on imports of Chinese food, requiring certificates stating they are free from milk, a government official said on Tuesday.

"From today we are introducing a certification system," undersecretary of health Francesca Martini said. Food imports will be impounded in customs for 60 days and then destroyed if the certificates are not submitted, she said.

Many countries have restricted Chinese food imports since the emergence of tainted milk in China which has made more than 54,000 children sick.

Italy does not import milk or dairy products from China, the agriculture ministry has said. The new measures are aimed at ensuring there are no traces of milk in products such as food supplements, soy and rice protein or processed foods.

Italy's own dairy sector was hit by its own tainted milk scandal earlier this year, albeit on a far smaller scale than the Chinese problem. Several countries banned imports of mozzarella cheese after high levels of dioxins were found in milk being used to make the cheese. (Reporting by Massimiliano Di Giorgio; writing by Robin Pomeroy)

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